Pushbutton switch assembly with multiple momentary action

ABSTRACT

A pushbutton switch assembly including a plurality of movable switch elements, a plurality of main sliders for actuating and a plurality of main push rods for engaging the main sliders to actuate some of the switch elements. There also are two movably mounted momentary sliders for actuating two corresponding switch elements and two momentary push rods for engaging the momentary sliders to selectively actuate corresponding switch elements. Each of the momentary push rods moves one of the momentary sliders away from the other momentary slider. A spring interconnects the momentary sliders to return each of them to its original position.

I United States Patent 13,569,639

[72] Inventor Steward A. Woodward 3,322,908 /1967 Woodward 200/5(E) Stratford, Conn. 3,346,706 /1967 Woodward 200/5(E) [21] P g z 1969 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer [22] glled d 9 3 Assistant Examiner-J. R. Scott i Elem C AttorneysJohn M. Stoudt, Radford M. Reams, Ralph E. [73} Asslgnee mm c ompany Krisher, Jr., Frank L. Neuhauser and Oscar B. Waddell 54 PUSHBUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH 1 MULTIPLE MOMENTARY ACTION AB STRACT: A pushbutton switch assembly including a plu- 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs rality of movable switch elements, a plurality of mam sliders for actuating and a plurality of main push rods for engaging [52] US. Cl. 200/5, the main sliders to actuate some f the switch elemenm There 200/18 also are two movably mounted momentary sliders for actuat [51] f "0111906 ing two corresponding switch elements and two momentary Fleld ofseal'ch u push rods for engaging the momentary liders to electively 56] R r Cited actuate corresponding switch elements. Each of the momentae erences ry push rods moves one of the momentary sliders away from UNITED STATES PATENTS the other momentary slider. A spring interconnects the mo- 3,299,223 1/1967 Woodward 200/5(E) mentary sliders to return each of them to its original position.

48 /7 2.2 o o 0200- o 7 t 20 Q50 24 ill 24 :4

PATENTEU MAR 9 IHYI sum 1 BF 2 FIG 1 T. .w uv d a 8 w NM/ 0 m a m A PIUSHWUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH MULTIPLE MQMENTARY ACTION BACKGROUND OF THE. INVENTION This invention relates to pushbutton switch assemblies and, more particularly, to multiple pushbutton switch assemblies having provision for at least two separate momentary actions.

Multiple pushbutton switch assemblies have obtained widespread use for controlling various appliances such as air conditioners, ranges, dryers and the like. Such assemblies have taken various forms and include a number of different features. For instance my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,223, issued on Jan. 17, 1967 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses such an assembly including a spring-loaded auxiliary or momentary slider.

As the mechanisms to be controlled have become more complex, there has grown a need to have the pushbutton switch assemblies control more and more functions. One such area is that now it is often desirablejfor'the'switch assembly to provide at least two separate momentary actions. At the same time it is highly desirable to keep the switch assemblies as compact and uncomplicated as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an improved switchassembly of the multiple pushbutton slider Another object of'this invention is to provide a multiple slider type switch which affords at least two separate momentary actions.

it is a further object of this invention to provide such a multiple pushbutton switch which is compact and uncomplicated in form.

The invention, according to one embodiment thereof, pro vides a pushbutton switch including a housing and a plurality of movable switch elements in the housing. A plurality of main sliders are movably mounted in the housing and have cam means for actuation of selected switch elements. A plurality of push rods extend into the housing for engaging the main sliders to actuate the selected switch elements. A first auxiliary slider is mounted in the housing and has cam means for actuating a first of the switch elements. The first auxiliary slider has a normal position and is movable in a first direction away from its normal position. A first of the push rods is positioned for engaging the first auxiliary slider to move it in the first direction. A second auxiliary slider is mounted in the housing and has cam means for actuating a second of the switch elements. The second auxiliary slider has a normal position and is movable in a second direction away from its normal position. A second of the push rods is positioned for engaging the second auxiliary slider to move it in the second direction. Biasing means interconnects the first and second auxiliary sliders for urging them toward their respective normal positions.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRlElF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWlNG FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple pushbutton switch assembly incorporating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch assembly of Fin. 3;

FIG. 5 is a layout view of the sliders used in the switch assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic presentation of a circuit ldliii'ed by the assembly of FIG. 1', illustrating the switch element positions provided by depression of each push rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 in particular there is shown a multiple pushbutton, multiple slider switch assembly 10 including a hollow base member 111 formed from a suitable molded insulating material, as is well known in the art. The base 11 includes a central elongated recess or chamber 12. The base 11 also includes shoulders 13 and 14 which extend outwardly on each side of the chamber 12 and are formed with a number of spaced apart openings 15 to receive electrical terminals 16 and 17. The terminals 16 and 17 extend out of the base through the openings 15 and also extend out of the open side of the base 11. A cover plate 18 of suitable insulating material closes the open side of the base 11, the cover plate and base together forming an insulating housing of the switch assembly 10. The coverplate is provided with a number of recesses 19 through which'the terminals 16 and 17 extend, with the terminals 16 being formed as male contacts for attachments to an external circuit. Both the terminals 16 and 17 are stacked over the cover plate 18 as indicated at 20 and their other ends are stacked over as indicated at 21 so that the terminals 16 and 17 serve the additional function of mechaniments to complete an electrical circuit and are movable from those positions to positions in which the switch elements are separated. Additionally individual terminals 16 and 17 may be interconnected within the housing by connection strips such as that shownat 250. Also a number of switch elements on the same side of the switch assembly may be electrically interconnected externally of the housing by an electrically conductive connection strap 25b, which is held against a shoulder 13, 15

of the housing by the stacked over portions 21 of the selected terminals. if desired, terminals can first be staked to the housing, forming shoulders. Then the strap is placed over the terminals, which then are restaked to secure the strap and terminals together. ln the event one of the terminals intermediate the ends of the such a strap is not to be electrically interconnected with the others by means of the strap, an opening such as that indicated at 26 may be provided so that the particular terminal does not engage the strap. Thus by various interconnections of the terminals 16 and 17 through use of strips 250 and straps 25b the same basic switch may be used to form the desired connections in a number of different circuits.

For selectively actuating selected ones of the switch elements 22 and 23, there are a number of elongated sliders 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. The sliders are received in the recess or chamber 12 in a stacked or parallel arrangement. Better understanding of these sliders may be had by referring to the layout of FIG. 5 wherein the eight sliders are shown in more detail. Looking at slider 27 for purposes of illustration, it will be noted that its upper surface 34 is provided with a number of spaced apart recesses 35, all but one of which are of a uniform depth, which would allow a movable contact spring arm 24 received therein to be in a lower position, closing the contacts 22 and 23. However, one of the recesses is provided with a cam surface 36 extending outwardly from the bottom of the recess 35 sothat, when an associated spring arm is on the upper portion of the cam surface 36, it will be raised to separate the associated switch elements 22 and 23. Similarly one or more of the recesses 3 of each of the other sliders 28- 3i3are provided with cams 36. Thus, as is well known in the art, as predetermined ones of the sliders are moved longitudinally within the recess 12, certain ofth'e cam surfaces 36 will cause one or more of the pairs of the switch elements 22 and 23 to be open and others to be closed. This provides the various desired electrical connections within the switch.

The underside of the sliders 27-31 are provided with recesses 37, each of which has an edge 38 which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the slider and an edge 39 which is angled with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the slider so that the engagement of any particular edge 39 by an associated push rod will cause that slider to be moved longitudinally within the recess 12. Some of the edges 39 are to the righthand and others to the left-hand side of the associated edge 38, as is common in the art, to determine the direction in which various sliders are moved as individual pushbuttons are depressed.

Sliders 32 and 33 vary somewhat from the sliders 27, 31 and function as auxiliary or momentary sliders while the sliders 27- -31 are main sliders. The slider 32 has one recess 37 with edges 38 and 39 like main sliders 27-31 and one recess 40 which is rectangular in form so as to receive a push rod without any movement of the slider. The slider 33 has five recesses 41, each of which has an edge 42 substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the slider 33 and an angled edge 43. Each of the edges 43 includes a projection 44 which extends part way across the mouth of the recess 41. In the exemplification the momentary sliders 32 and 33 are each shorter than the main sliders 27-31, and, in fact, their combined length is less than the length of the main sliders. Thus they may be placed in axial alignment in the chamber or recess 12 and longitudinally move therein without interfering with each other. Each momentary slider has an arm, 45 and 46 respectively, which extends generally transversely away from the main body of the slider. As is illustrated in FIG. 1 the arms 45 and 46 extend through cooperating openings 47 and 48 in the cover plate 18. The arms 45 and 46 are interconnected by a biasing means in the form of a coil spring 49 which extends between the arms and engages notches 50' and 51 in the arms. When momentary sliders 32, 33 are in their normal position, that is without any of the pushbuttons depressed, they will be in their closest proximity and the arms 45 and 46 will engage the portion of the cover plate 18 between the openings 47 and 48. This engagement limits the converging movement of the momentary sliders and, with the spring 49, defines their normal position.

In order to longitudinally or axially move selected ones of the sliders for actuating predetermined switch elements there are a number of elongated push rods 52, 53,54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 having on their distal ends pushbuttons 59. The push rods are mounted in recesses 60 in the base 11 in alignment with recess 12 in the base 11 and recesses 37, 40 and 41 of the various sliders 27-33. The inner end of each of the push rods is turned over to form a generally cylindrical actuating surface 61.

The cylindrical actuating surface 61 of each push rod overlaps shoulders 60a in the associated recess 60. When the push rods 52-58 are in their respective extended positions, the surfaces 61 engage the shoulders 60a'so that the surfaces 61 extend partially into the chamber 12. Thus, the cylindrical surfaces 61 of the push rods are positioned to engage the edges of the recesses 37, 40 and 41. This also establishes the normal positions of the slider, including the auxiliary or momentary sliders 32 and 33.

The sliders and push rods, when assembled into the housing, have the general alignment illustrated in FIG. 5. It will be seen that the switch assembly is capable of accommodating eight push rods, but only seven have been utilized. The position where a push rod is omitted is in alignment with the gap between the momentary sliders 32 and 33 to provide the desired spacing between these sliders.

Viewing FIG. 5 in particular it will be seen that depression of push rod 52 will move sliders 27, 29 and 32 to the left (as seen in FIG. 5) while sliders 28, 30, 31 and 33 remain stationary. Slider 33 remains stationary even though a force is exerted on it by spring 49 because arm 46 is in engagement with the cover plate 18, and the edges 43 of recesses 41 are in engagement with the cylindrical portions 61 of push rods 54-58. When the push rod 52 is subsequently released, the force built up in spring 49 will return the momentary slider 32 to its original or normal position, thus the edge 39 in slider 32 will force push rod 52 outwardly to its extended position. The spring 49 is made sufficiently strong to accomplish this, although a lighter coil spring could be used in place of spring 49 for returning the momentary sliders with small springs placed around the push rods 52-58 to return them to their extended position. The main sliders 27 and 29 will remain in their position to the left. This provides a momentary action with regard to the switch elements associated with the cams 36 of the slider 32 while depression of push rod 52 causes the switch elements associated with the cams 36 of sliders 29 and 27 to be actuated to another position, which they will then maintain until an additional push rod has been depressed.

Depression of push rod 53 will cause sliders 27 and 31 to assume a position to the left of their normal position (as seen in FIG. 5); however, push rod 53 will be received in the rectangular recess 40 in slider 32 and thus not cause a momentary action of that slider. Without a momentary action of the slider 32 the push rod 53 will tend to remain in a depressed position until another push rod has been depressed to force it out, although other well-known biasing means might be employed to return it to its extended position.

Depression of any of the push rods 54-58 will cause appropriate movement of predetermined ones of the main push rods 27-31, either right or left depending on the direction on which the engaged edges 39 are angled. Additionally each of these push rods will engage the angled edge 43 of momentary slider 33 and force it to the right (as seen in FIG. 5). This stores energy in the spring 49, since movement of the momentary slider 32 is prevented. Upon release of the depressed one of the sliders 54-58, the spring 49 will cause the momentary slider 33 to move back toward the left (as seen in FIG. 5) to its normal position or at least essentially to its normal position. However, the corresponding projection 44 on the slider 33 will move under the actuating surface 61 of the depressed push rod. This engagement then maintains the push rod in an intermediate or semidepressed po'sition'which shows the user at a glance the last push rod to have been depressed. When another push rod is subsequently depressed, relative movement of the sliders 27-31 will force the previously depressed push rod 54-58 to its extended position.

Cam 36 of momentary slider 33 is designed normally to maintain its associated switch elements in an open position. Movement of the momentary slider 33 to the right allows the associated movable switch arm to close the switch elements while the return movement of the movable momentary slider 33 toward its normal position causes the cam 36 of slider 33 to reopen the associated switch element. Thus, in summary of the exemplification, depression of the push rod 52 causes switch element actuation operation by selected ones of the main sliders 27-31 and a movement of the momentary slider 32, with the momentary slider being returned to its normal position upon release of push rod 52; depression of push rod 53 will cause selected switch actuation movement of predetermined ones of the main sliders 27-31 without any movement of either momentary slider; while depression of any of the push rods 54-58 will cause selected switch actuation movement of one or more of the main sliders 27-31 and movement of momentary slider 33 followed by a return of the momentary slider 33 to or essentially to its normal position upon release of the depressed push rod. The depressed push rod 54- -58 is held in an intermediate or semidepressed position by the slider 33 until another push rod is depressed.

It will be understood that recesses may be formed in the sliders in various combinations to provide various combinations of actions to lit the circuit requirements for the particular switch involved. This flexibility results from the multiple momentary action provided by the present invention. l have shown arms 45 and 46 engaging edges of the cover plate to establish, with spring 49, the normal positions of the momentary sliders. I also have shown the cylindrical actuating surfaces 61 engaging the edges 39 and 42 of the momentary sliders to establish, with spring 49, the normal positions of the momentary sliders. It will be understood that either or both arrangements may be used in any individual switch assembly.

FIG. 6 illustrates a particular interconnection of switch element for a switch such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and various switch element positions (open or closed) provided by use of the slider indicated in FIG. 5. The exemplification switch assembly includes eleven sets of switch elements identified with the numbers 62 through 72. The various interconnections of the switch elements of these pairs may be accomplished by provision of appropriate connection strips and connection straps to provide the external circuit connections and internal switch connections desired. In the chart in the lower portion of FIG. 6 xs indicate that the switch elements in vertical alignment therewith are closed, os indicate the vertically aligned switch elements are open,

N.C M

means a normally closed switch is momentarily open and N.O M

means a normally open switch which is momentarily closed. Upon depression of the push rod 52, the normally closed switch 62 will be momentarily open, and the normally open switch 63 will be momentarily closed. Once the push rod 52 is released, these switches return to their normal position. Also, when push rod 52 has been depressed, switches 64, 6S and 66 are open, switches 67, 68, 69, 70 are closed, and switches 71 and 72 are open. These switches 64-72 will remain in those positions until another push rod is depressed. As another example, upon depression of push rod 53, switch 62 is closed, switches 63 and 64 are open, switches 65, and 66 are closed, switches 67 and 68 are open, switches 69 and 70 are closed, and switches 71 and 72 are open. These switches retain those positions upon release of the push rod 53. As a further example, upon depression of push rod 58, switch 62 is closed, switches 63, 64, 65 are open, switch 66 is closed, switch 67 is open, switches 68 and 69 are closed, switch 70 is open, switch 71 is closed, and normally open switch 72 is closed momentarily. Upon release of push rod 58 switch 72 reopens while the other switches retain the position set forth. It will be understood that the condition of the switches illustrated in FIG. 6 is that condition in which the individual switches will be after the associated push rod is fully depressed, and which may or may not involve a change of condition depending upon which push rod has been previously depressed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, while I have shown and described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention in accordance with the Patent Statutes, modifications can be made therein without actually departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A pushbutton switch assembly including a housing; a plurality of movable switch elements within said housing; a plurality of main sliders movably mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuation of selected ones of said switch elements; a plurality of push rods extending into said housing for engaging said main sliders to actuate said selected switch elements; a first auxiliary slider mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuating at least a first of said switch elements; said first auxiliary slider having a normal position and being movable in a first direction away from its normal position; at least a first of said push rods being positioned for engaging said first auxiliary slider. to move it in the first direction; a second auxiliary slider mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuating at least a second of said switch elements; said second auxiliary slider having a normal position and being movable in a second direction away from its normal position; at least a second of said push rods being positioned in said housing for engaging said second auxiliary slider to move it in the second direction; and biasing means interconnecting said first and second auxiliary sliders for urging them toward their respective normal positions.

2. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes means interposed between said first and second auxiliary sliders for preventing each of said auxiliary sliders moving from its normal position toward the other of said sliders.

3. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a cover; said cover defining a pair of spaced apart elongated openings; each of said auxiliary sliders including an arm extending through a corresponding one of said elongated openings; said biasing means interconnecting said arms for urging said auxiliary sliders together toward their normal positions and the portion of said cover between said elongated openings limiting such movement of said auxiliary sliders to define the respective normal positions of said auxiliary sliders.

4. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least said first and second of said push rods have extended positions engaging said first and second auxiliary sliders respectively for limiting movement together of said auxiliary sliders to define the respective normal positions of said auxiliary sliders.

5. A pushbutton switch assembly, including a housing; a plurality of movable switch elements within said housing; first and second elongated momentary sliders movably mounted in said housing in spaced apart relationship; each of said first and second momentary sliders having at least one cam surface for selectively actuating at least a corresponding one of said switch elements; first and second push rods extending into said housing for engaging said first and second momentary slider respectively for selectively actuating said corresponding switch elements; each of said first and second push rods when depressed moving the corresponding momentary slider away from the other momentary slider; and biasing means interconnecting said momentary sliders for subsequently returning the previously moved momentary slider toward its original position.

6. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second momentary sliders are spaced apart and movable generally along the axis of their elongation.

7. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing includes means interposed between said first and second momentary sliders for limiting the movement of said momentary sliders toward each other.

8. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing includes a cover overlying said first and second momentary sliders; said cover including a pair of spaced apart, elongated openings; each of said first and second momentary sliders including an arm extending through a corresponding opening; said biasing means interconnecting said arms for urging said first and second momentary sliders toward one another; and the portion of said cover between said openings limiting such movement of said first and second movable sliders.

9. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 further including a plurality of elongated main sliders movably mounted in said housing generally in alignment with said auxiliary sliders; said main sliders having cam means for actuation of selected ones of said switch elements; additional push rods extending into said housing for engaging at least selected ones of said main sliders to actuate selected ones of said switch ele-. ments.

10. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second push rods have extended positions engaging said first and second momentary sliders respectively for limiting the return movement of said first and second momentary slider to define the respective normal positions of said momentary sliders. 

1. A pushbutton switch assembly including a housing; a plurality of movable switch elements within said housing; a plurality of main sliders movably mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuation of selected ones of said switch elements; a plurality of push rods extending into said housing for engaging said main sliders to actuate said selected switch elements; a first auxiliary slider mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuating at least a first of said switch elements; said first auxiliary slider having a normal position and being movable in a first direction away from its normal position; at least a first of said push rods being positioned for engaging said first auxiliary slider to move it in the first direction; a second auxiliary slider mounted in said housing and having cam means for actuating at least a second of said switch elements; said second auxiliary slider having a normal position and being movable in a second direction away from its normal position; at least a second of said push rods being positioned in said housing for engaging said second auxiliary slider to move it in the second direction; and biasing means interconnecting said first and second auxiliary sliders for urging them toward their respective normal positions.
 2. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes means interposed between said first and second auxiliary sliders for preventing each of said auxiliary sliders moving from its normal position toward the other of said sliders.
 3. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a cover; said cover defining a pair of spaced apart elongated openings; each of said auxiliary sliders including an arm extending through a corresponding one of said elongated openings; said biasing means interconnecting said arms for urging said auxiliary sliders together toward their normal positions and the portion of said cover between said elongated openings limiting such movement of said auxiliary sliders to define the respective normal positions of said auxiliary sliders.
 4. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least said first and second of said push rods have extended positions engaging said first and second auxiliary sliders respectively for limiting movement together of said auxiliary sliders to define the respective normal positions of said auxiliary sliders.
 5. A pushbutton switch assembly, including a housing; a plurality of movable switch elements within said housing; first and second elongated momentary sliders movably mounted in said housing in spaced apart relationship; each of said first and second momentary sliders having at least one cam surface for selectively actuating at least a corresponding one of said switch elements; first and second push rods extending into said housing for engaginG said first and second momentary slider respectively for selectively actuating said corresponding switch elements; each of said first and second push rods when depressed moving the corresponding momentary slider away from the other momentary slider; and biasing means interconnecting said momentary sliders for subsequently returning the previously moved momentary slider toward its original position.
 6. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second momentary sliders are spaced apart and movable generally along the axis of their elongation.
 7. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing includes means interposed between said first and second momentary sliders for limiting the movement of said momentary sliders toward each other.
 8. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing includes a cover overlying said first and second momentary sliders; said cover including a pair of spaced apart, elongated openings; each of said first and second momentary sliders including an arm extending through a corresponding opening; said biasing means interconnecting said arms for urging said first and second momentary sliders toward one another; and the portion of said cover between said openings limiting such movement of said first and second movable sliders.
 9. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 further including a plurality of elongated main sliders movably mounted in said housing generally in alignment with said auxiliary sliders; said main sliders having cam means for actuation of selected ones of said switch elements; additional push rods extending into said housing for engaging at least selected ones of said main sliders to actuate selected ones of said switch elements.
 10. A pushbutton switch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second push rods have extended positions engaging said first and second momentary sliders respectively for limiting the return movement of said first and second momentary slider to define the respective normal positions of said momentary sliders. 